An End-of-year Examen

I’ve never been a great one for sitting down and making a list of resolutions for the New Year. So, in place of that, I offer you this Examen:

Call to mind the Lord’s presence . . .

In today’s Gospel reading St. John tells us:

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came to be through him, and without him nothing came to be. . . . And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father’s only- begotten Son, full of grace and truth.”

Thank the Lord for his many blessings, big and small, this past year. 

I thank God for: 

• Times to gather together with friends to socialize, pray, or reflect
• The  memory of Brian Christopher’s retreat last January
• C.A. Leininger - the inspiration he provided through his dedication to his students and the companionship he shared with all of us
• Guy Delaney whose life was way too short - for the love he showed his family and friends and for the friendship and enthusiasm for life he brought to our school community
• The generosity of our alumni and benefactors as witnessed in our new facilities; and for the kindness of our parents as seen in the meals provided by the JPATs
• The blessing of one another

Please take a few moments to reflect on those people and events from last year for which you are personally grateful...

As sinners who trust in God’s love, ask the Lord’s forgiveness.

I ask God for:

• As the Society of Jesus, for the pain and the injustice our brothers caused to families by holding men, women, and children in servitude at the beginnings of our respective provinces
• As the Society of Jesus, for the abuse which some of our companions committed against young people who trusted in our care
• As a nation, for the lack of compassion for those “tired, poor, huddled masses yearning to breathe free” who come to our borders seeking safety and livelihood for themselves and their families
• As any of the communities where I live or serve, for any way we may have contributed to the racial divide in our nation

Please take a few moments to call to mind and ask forgiveness for any personal sins which stand in need of healing...

As people of faith, request for the Lord’s help.

I request:

• Assistance in discerning his call in our personal and corporate lives and responding generously to it
• The ability to be his heart and hands in the world bringing peace and reconciliation to a fractured world
• Grace in guiding and mentoring the young men of Jesuit entrusted to our care
• To grow in compassion and putting that compassion into action through direct service to the poor of our city

Please take a few moments to ask for the Lord’s help in this New Year to address those concerns closest to your heart.

St. Ignatius in Prayer Beneath the Stars
by: William Hart McNichols

Pray together with me as we close with The Prayer for Generosity or another prayer close to your heart.

Lord, teach me to be generous,

to serve you as you deserve,

to give and not to count the cost,

to fight and not to heed the wounds,

to labor and not to ask for rest,

to toil and not to ask for reward

except that of knowing that I am doing your will.

Amen.

Author: 

Wally Sidney, S.J.

Superior of the Gonzaga Community

Theology Department

'Campus Ministry Team